WK 4 Blog : Who am I as a communicator?

The similarities between how I evaluated myself as to how I believed I communicated with others’ where the same pertaining to scale scores of my evaluation of communication anxiety Inventory. For instance, my family scores and my colleague were in the same range within the scale scores, in which were between; 25-31. I was very surprised to see that their viewpoint on how I communicate with others in general was consider to be effective communication within the same context in considering the scores in which they reported indicated “I feel comfortable communicating in most situations and feel confident in anticipating such encounters.”

However, there was a slight difference in what my self-verbal aggressiveness scale reported and between my family member score. For instance, I gave myself a score of 64. However, my family member gave me a score of 73 in which, indicated I was moderate in which I maintain a good balance between respect and consideration for others. I am surprised to see that the scores were different. I never realized that I was viewed differently by my family in opposed to my perspective I never realized that my family would view me different than what I thought about myself. For instance, according to the self-evaluation chart the score my family member gave me placed me to be verbal aggression in which consisted of me being significant with little provocation, I might cross the line from of “ argumentativeness, “ in which attacks a person’s position or statements, and verbal aggression, which involves person and can be hurtful to the listener.

However, I disagreed on the difference because my family member who evaluated me knows how to push my buttons in which gives me no other choice but to defend myself from being disrespected and insulted considering I am the parent and she or he may be an adult but they shouldn't cross the line of self-verbal aggressiveness scale.

What surprised me the most my colleague viewpoint was within the same scale range as myself who viewed me to feel comfortable in communicating in most situations and feel confident in anticipating such encounters.” However, taking inconsideration that I share a different type of relationship between my family members than with my colleague I can understand the context of having to different viewpoints. I feel good about what learned about how other individuals might view myself verbal-aggressiveness within different context of judgment than myself.

Therefore, upon evaluation of my listening styles profile we all shared the same similarities in thought considering my profile placed me in group 1. “In which, states I am empathetic and concerned with the emotions of others. This listening style helps me to build trustful and respectful relationships, but it can interfere with proper judgment because I tend to be very trusting of others. Why? I am surprised because I sometimes think when I am speaking to a family member or a colleague they are not listening to everything I am saying to them within having a conversation with them that will be effective and consider to be competent communication. Why? Because they might at time dominate the conversation and I sometimes feel I don’t have an opportunity to be heard. This is consider to be unfair treatment in which cause conflict and misinformation to be taking out of context.

In conclusion, considering how each might inform my professional work and my personal life I have learned from this self-evaluation I must be consider of others feelings upon effective and competent communication. Furthermore, it might inform me to realize it is a give and take situation in which I learn everyone deserves a right to speak and be heard in order to build healthy effective competent communication and strong leaderships and relationships within our society.

Week 3- Blog Communication with people from diverse cultures

                                                      

     When I think about the cultural diversity within my workplace, I think about exchanging appropriate information to welcome all cultural primary language so that children, parents and staff will feel comfortable within a multicultural setting that consist of two teachers who speaks Spanish and English. The majority of the children and their families in my workplace consist of Hispanic families and staff in which most of them are bilingual. Therefore, I take in consideration of all the aspects that make up a culture, including “race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and varying abilities." For instance, the different ways I communicate differently with people from different groups and cultures or with a disability consist of English and Spanish considering both languages when using interpersonal communication involving verbal and non-verbal communication. For example, I will use positive words, cues, gestures, sign language, written documentation, music, books, pictures and offer an interpreter if needed. Therefore, I take in consideration towards another individual feelings and I value their opinions and ideas. I show respect, sensitivity, compassion and a sense of humor at all times to encourage interaction among the children and their families and co-worker’s. 

     For instance, I listen, observe, focus, empathize and respect and think before I speak in order to deliver effective communication. I will welcome, a comfortable, fun and positive communication within the environment by sharing stories are age appropriate jokes and giving respectful complement’s upon stating it is a pleasure to have your child in our classroom and saying thank you for sharing your opinions and ideas when communicating with the children, parents, staff and my supervisor. I use effective communication by respecting their feelings and acceptance of their differences and similarities in freedom of self-expression when sharing information. The different ways I communicate differently. For example, a parent enters my classroom to drop off her child to school. I greet the parent and child with a smile and I ask open ended positive questions. How are you doing today, to let the child, parents, staff and my supervisor know I am here to address any concerns they may have by giving them my full attention and direct eye contact with a smile to make the parent and child and others to feel comfortable within their environment in order to build a trustful relationship.

     In addition, if the family primary language is English I will greet the parent and child with a smile in English. “Good Morning” Ms. or Mr. Garcia how are you doing today? I am glad Bill is here today he is a smart child and a good listener who plays very well with the other children". However, if the parent and child primary language is Spanish I will greet them in Spanish with a smile, and say “Buenos dais." Ms. or Mr. Garcia. When considering I am not fluent in Spanish showing respect for their culture by making the child and their family member feel welcome I chose to learn how to greet them in their primary language. 

However, at home, I used formal and sometimes informal language with my family and friends called "Slang Language" but in playful ways. For instance, my girlfriend or boyfriend call me on the telephone and said "what are you doing today" I will say " just chilling” or "Let’s Roll " I might call them by their nickname What's going on Slim or Big Baby. 

    Therefore, Slang Language is just a figure of speech. Therefore, out of respect for other individuals feelings I don't use vulgar language what is described in the dictionary that may be used by other individuals when communicating in which it may consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people. Therefore, when I am in the workplace I will communicate using the formal language in which I conduct myself in a professional at all times, However, there are times I use a sense of humor to encourage other people it okay to smile are laugh within a workplace, you should be able to interact in a fun loving environment and not take everything so seriously.Therefore, when I communicate with my co-workers or supervisor, I don't use Slang Language and I stay away from bias remarks because, I don't want the conversation to be taken out of context in which may can cause a misunderstanding or destroy trustful relationships.

     The three strategies I could use to help me communicate more effectively with the people or groups I have identified will consist of the following; 

1st. Using positive interaction to model communication that the exhibits respectful communication between sender and receiver that incorporates positive feedback in waiting for the appropriate time to speak. For example, listen and think before speaking about what the person is saying before asking open end questions about what you don’t understand but be polite to the individual by respecting their feelings

2nd. Make sure I show interpersonal communication using positive and respectful verbal and non-verbal communication when speaking to an individual so they will know they are being heard and you care about what they are saying and avoid bias remarks.  3rd. Used communication, cognition may or may not consist direct eye contact however, it is to be observed and thoughtful of other individual feelings when communicating to listen and interpreted before offering feedback.  

Week 2 Blog-My Sister's Wedding

                                                    

                                                   My Sister’s Wedding  

    This episode was based on relationship experiences between a couple who loves one another and finds out there are some hidden secrets about the groom pass that cause the bride to call off the wedding ceremony. The interference between the oldest sister,groom and her youngest sister who was getting married fines out the oldest sister from out of town had a one night stand with her groom 10 years ago during the time they attended college together. Therefore,all three character's showed ambiguous hurt feelings for each other that consisted of nonverbal communication in which facial expressions and body movements consisted of blinking, stammering, or hesitations in speech in which indicated deception.

   
      In addition, verbally crying and latching out negative words towards each other that cause frustration, distrust, dishonesty,disrespect and lack of support from the oldest sister and her fiance.Furthermore, his fiance felt betrayed by the groom who had been interment with her older sister and called off the wedding. The groom hided secrets about his pass relationships with other women in which he never mention to fiance. The character’s relationships are based on family, friends and other individual's who had been effected by not communicating openly about their pass relationship’s and how it can affect a person's life. Furthermore, it is best to  forgive one another and trust one another and love the person for whom they are as an individual in order to have a healthy relationship and partnership.The assumptions that I thought about the characters and the plot was based on interpersonal communication consisting of exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between two individual honesty towards being respectful and understanding and listen to one another opinions and to keep an open line of communication between one another had been influenced by other individual's that affected  the couple to have a healthy, trustful and honest relationship.
         For instance, relationship's should welcome appropriate communication in order to feel comfortable with the person you are in a relationship and partnership, such as family member's, friends and people within your environment.The assumptions that I would have made about the couple would be based on being more considerate towards other individual feels when communicating and to be passive towards building a trustful and honest relationship and to keep an open mind about present and pass relationship with friends and family members by sharing opinions about how hidden secrets can affect the love you have for another person. Furthermore, individual’s negative behavior can effect a person throughout life, triggering aggression and making it hard to trust and be honest to another individual. I learned, it is important to listen, think, and ask questions about a person, so you can learned about that individual and gain a better understanding when communicating verbal or non verbally before jumping to conclusions about an individual ideas, opinions,and offer suggestions.To be honest and keep a positive open line of communication and forgive and accept a person individual differences in order to build a strong healthy relationship and partnership with the people within your environment.

Reference:

Written, produce and directed by Paul D. Hannah

Wk 1 Blog- Competent Communication

In reference to demonstrating competent communication with a particular context and use responsible thinking when speaking effectively would be my Godmother, Ms. Runnels. She demonstrates respect when communicating to family members, friends, and myself. For example, When I wanted to continue my education and I didn't have the self confidence I needed to peruse my education. She told me, "You can do whatever you put your mind to do just go back to school and focus on achieving your goal." Furthermore, She has taught me that education is the key to success. Therefore, with the ability and my disability I am now perusing my Mater's degree. I would want to model what she has shared with me. The willingness to share information, listen to other's opinions, and feelings all while using reasonable thinking. I want to make something of my life and by understanding, respecting, and influencing others I know that I am able to accept responsibility for to my unique characteristics. Also, I will achieve a higher education and have the opportunity to learn how to use ethical communication and the importance of the fundamental ways of using responsible thinking and decision making. In order, to develop positive relationship to help children and families well being within their communities.

Wk-8 Blog-Professional Hopes and Goals

Week 8-Blog: Professional Hopes and Goals

The one hope that I have working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to develop a positive relationship and partnership with their community by developing an educational program for young children and their families. A educational program that will have young children and their families to participate in learning about social visibility or invisibility of children and families from diverse cultures. The program will be called “There’s Always Hope” in which, will contribute to the well-being of the diverse children, a lesson to be learned from each other through partnership connection about respecting families diversity. The program will be scheduled for the evenings after school and on weekends for at least one hour. The children, parents, staff, community of volunteers will be able to participate and volunteer to interact and collaborate with each other by being placed with another family other than their own family members from other diverse cultural background. They would role play education activities that will redirect children and families from diverse cultures. That way they are able to become knowledgeable and understanding of the uniqueness of diversity within their environment. This program will consist of age appropriated lessons about one’s own social identity relating to “Ism” redirecting the differences of diverse cultures by learning from one another ideas that will embrace compassion, encompasses, acceptance and respect of a safe, nurturing, positive outcomes providing opportunities of excelling in equality education. Therefore, the redirection of children and their families to have a fresh start forming a positive attitudes about other cultures values and beliefs. The “Ant- Bias Education for young children and ourselves will consist of positive scripts consisting of children and families of diverse cultures participating in role play and activities. The lessons will consist of positive role playing engaging with other families by using life experiences using ideas, opinions, creativeness, exploration, literacy, language, books, toys, music, art and self-expression and positive, open end questions that will welcome diverse children and families to feel comfortable, respected and supported throughout their personal journey. The objective is to redirect internalized oppression and encourage and motivated children and families to value everyone's differences in order to receive respect so they can move beyond discrimination in a positive way in order to become productive and successful within their choice of endeavors throughout their lives and given respect, support, trust within society towards another individual social identities within their community. One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to start educating our children and families about “Anti-Bias education for young children and families and ourselves. We would achieve this by implementing positive open-end questions, ideas and opinions within the curriculum, books, and other resources to accommodate and use within every early childhood education programs. These resources about the children and families from diverse cultures that will help them to identify with themselves as well as others to establish equal equality opportunities in the educational field. A special thanks to my colleagues who gave such excellent insights throughout this course it has been a privilege and you are a gift to me by respecting and supporting me throughout my journey. Thank you for being a positive influence within my life experience. All of you are awesome and I have the up most respect for each and every one of you Thank You Sincerely,

Welcoming Families From Around the World

                     

The name of my family’s country of origin is Nigeria. According to, the history Nigeria is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Nigeria in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.” en.wikipedia.org

The five ways in which I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family is listed below:

·         To establish a kind and respectful relationship and partnership in serving the children and families with diverse and cultural contexts within their community. Furthermore, having an open line of communication, listening and learning about their perspectives, experiences and knowledge. Therefore, I can be positively responsive,sensitive and honest  about any concerns, ideas, and beliefs they may like to share about their cultural uniqueness. In other words, I will welcome them to share their opinions when I accommodate children and families with or without a disability or ability from diverse cultures to met their individual needs and goals in cognitive, physical and emotional learning and development.

        For instance, I will offer diversity educational activities consisting of math, science, health, language and literacy, art and music that provides diversity books, dolls, farm animals, a barn, family portraits, table toys such as Lego’s, diverse play clothes, hats and play food pictures posted within my classroom setting.

·         To explore and interact with the children and their families by providing a positive understanding of their differences and similarities by valuing their languages, cultures and life experiences. For example, encourage collaboration by having an open group discussion consisting of them sharing ideas, creativity using open end questions. For example, Jill, what do you like to play with today?  What do you like to eat? What song do you like to sing? What did you draw or paint?
              To be honest in providing positive feedback when offering information and resources that don’t discriminate against their race, ethnic, cultural, gender or religion but be sensitive towards their culture values and morals within their environment. For example, what would you like to play today?  What do you like to play with at home?

·         To be supportive towards a safe, healthy, nurturing, comfortable, inviting diversity environment that offer solutions to participate and have access to equal equality education and opportunities to excel  in their lives throughout society. For example, encourage “Betty” carrots are good for your skin, eyes and teeth they help you to be strong like mommy and daddy.

·         To be committed to children and families by providing a caring multicultural learning environment of parents, staff, children and peers engagement. That way they could experience freedom of self-expression, creativity to be able to participate in the early childhood program broad membership consisting of collaboration about their concerns or ideas and opinions about the criteria, curriculum, code standards, school readiness program, interest and desires for their child goals in educational field.

For example, invite children and families to interact and eat dinner together that will encourage collaboration in parent meetings, school events and field trips to volunteer in the classroom. By bringing something from home they would like to shared verbally or show that welcome their cultural identities within their community.   

·         A brief statement describing in what ways I hope that these preparations will benefit both the family and myself. These preparations will benefit the family and myself to establish a healthy, safe, positive, honest and friendly interesting relationship and partnership. By understanding and learning from each other how to appreciate our differences and similarities of different but equine lifestyles.

Reference:

en.wikipedia.org

http://www.unicef.org/nigeria/children_

Blog wk 6: The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The memory I have of an incident that I experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as fictional ones, such as movies,books, television shows happen on the south side of town where I live in San Antonio, Texas between the year of 1979-1984. I was in my early twenties when I first unravel my privileges and oppressions when enter into a beauty Salon in my neighborhood. However, I thought that cosmetologists provided services that include caring for cosmetic condition of all types of hair, skin and nails. Therefore, I wanted to get my hair permed, so I walked into the beauty salon and I asked the hair stylist if she could put a perm on my hair and she said to me “take off your hair scarf”. So I did, and she said to me, “we don’t do that type of hair at this salon”.I remember looking around the room at the majority of client’s were Hispanic .Everyone was staring at me and I felt so uncomfortable and embarrass to be aware of the fact that I was a target of racism identity.

 I was mistreated as a person based on my self-confidence of being an African American woman. I felt at the time that I had no limitations based on categorization of my personal choice and personal growth.The hair stylist discriminated against me because of my physical appearance. I was viewed as a member of a non-dominant person or group of people of color in which she felt she doesn't want to participate in serving within her institution. Furthermore, keep in mind the one time I encounter such incident in real context, including online environments, as well as fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows. I realized this wasn’t the first incident about hair stylist that I had witnessed within my life who chooses what type person hair they chose to work on based on social identity, this type of personal side of bias, stereotyping, prejudice and oppression have existed and still exist within today’s society.

For example, I watched a movie on television name “Beauty Shop” The African American women had open a beauty salon and she hired a Caucasian woman and an African American man to work in her salon. The other African American women hair stylist was happy to get extra help and said it’s about time you hire someone to help out in the salon. However, when the owner introduces the new hair stylist who was a Caucasian they became very upset with her after they found out the lady was Caucasian women and said “Oh, no” we are not working with her and we see what you are trying to do by hiring a white girl, you trying to turn this shop in a white beauty salon.  She doesn’t know anything about black people hair.” The owner begged them to give her a chance and said she was a very creative hair stylist. However, two of the

African American women quit and walked out refusing to work with the Caucasian woman.

Later that night the owner had a celebration and invited all her hair stylist and they were at a club when a very handsome black man came over at the table and asked the Caucasian woman to dance instead of the black women. However, after she left the table some of the black women said “Did you see that all of us beautiful black woman sitting at this table and he pick the white girl to dance with him?”

The ways the specific bias, prejudice and /or oppression in these two incidents diminish equity consisted of institutional prejudice and discrimination of unfair treatment based on social identity of a Caucasian woman who was a target of an injustice act upon another person or group of people of a different race.        

However, these two incident bring up feelings of self-hate consisting of internalized oppression about another individual belief can engage in behavior of self-reflection essential to be anti-bias when stereotyping someone’s social identity. According to, “Internalized oppression or inferiority based on social, psychological consequences for people or a person belonging to more than one society, identity groups who experience any of the many faces of institutionalized prejudice and discrimination, such as limited access to opportunities or resources and constant negative messages about their groups.”Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 26 par 4).In addition, “Internalized oppression is a feeling or belief that the negative messages are true. It is learned behavior that is a response to institutionalized racism, sexism, classism, and the other isms. Which have undermined the sense of self.” Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 26 par 4).

In other words it means when a person or a group of people stereotypes about one’s own group, or identifying with a different (usually the dominant) culture’s standards of beauty regarding hair color, eye shape, body size, or skin tone as being “better” than their own group’s standards.” Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 26 par 7) According to, “How we feel personally about social identities may stand in opposition to the social realities of advantage and disadvantage.” Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 27 par 5). “For example,social discrimination and negative messages about being working class do not necessarily stop people from being personally proud of their working- classfamily background.” Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 27 par 5). 

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).